Safety device for aircraft controls



ug. 9, 1949. w. E. AUSTIN SAFETY DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT cannons Filed June 3, 1943 w a y) 1 Q m a) Lm ATTDRNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The invention relates to a safety device designed especially for aircraft control mechanism.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which, when installed in association with the controls for the pilot and co-pilot of an airplane, will in the event of the injury or death of either permit the airplane to be readily controlled by the remaining pilot or other occupant of the airplane.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a safety device of this character, wherein airplanes with dual control for operating the same can be selectively rendered inoperative so as to avoid ineffectiveness in the operation of the machine where one of the pilots is killed and the body of the latter accidentally falls on the controls which would result in the jamming thereof and thus rendering the dual control inoperative with the result of the destruction of the craft and possibly killing the crew aboard the same. other words, where an aircraft is equipped with dual controls either one of such controls can be thrown out of operation so that the control remaining operative may be handled for the successful flight of the aircraft.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character wherein the body of a dead pilot falling upon the controls of the dual type enables a co-pilot to throw out that control affected by the falling dead body which would jam the same and thus enabling the live pilot to master the operation of the airplane and carry the same safety in its flight.

This device also is adaptable for use in training airplanes, particularly where the airman being trained becomes frightened and incapable of actuating his control the latter can be out out of service, so that the teaching pilot will have full control in the operation of the airplane.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, clearly efiective in its operation, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a dual control for piloting an airplane, and has in association therewith the safety device in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing by ful lines the normal working position of the control and by dotted lines the disturbed position thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a detail plan view of the control wheel.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic detail view of the electric circuit layout of the safety device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing. 7

Referring to the drawing in detail A designates generally a dual control set up for operating an airplane and such dual control in its set up are for a pilot and co-pilot service and in this instance involves a vertical double arm frame H], the double arms ll of which have hinged thereto at 12 upstanding supporting posts or uprights l3, these being fitted with terminal housings M for the controls for a pilot and co-pilot. Each control involves a steering wheel l5 provided with a segment IS. The segment is engageable by an electric magnet locking armature H, the magnet [8 of which is confined within the housing l4 and is in an electric circuit l9. The wheel l5 with its segment [6 is mounted loosely upon a shaft 20 and this shaft is included in the control mechanism, the magnet l8 being fixed to the shaft 2|] and its armature i! when engaged with the segment l6, locks the wheel l5 to the shaft 20. When the armature I1 is released from the segment IS the said wheel [5 is unclutched or released from the shaft 2|], so that the latter cannot be operated by the wheel IS.

The electric circuit I9 includes a hand switch 2! to be manually operated by a pilot. The circuit I9 is a two-way control circuit so that there is a switch 2| for each control conveniently located on the housings l4 therefor.

Located at the hinged point of each post or column I3 is a double armature electric magnet or solenoid 22, the armatures 23 of which being adapted to lock with keepers 2d fixed to the frame arms I I, the magnets or solenoids 22 being fitted in the posts or columns l3 and are included in the circuit l9. Each magnet I8 and 22 has the armatures thereof extended to locking position b coil expansion springs 25, 25, while on energizing the said magnet the armatures are drawn inwardly thereof for the unlatching of their armatures to release the wheel [5 and also to permit the tilting of the column or post l3. The magnets 22 are included in the circuit I9 and this circuit is of the kind to permit the selective throwing out or rendering inoperative of one control and permitting the other control to remain in. or operative. ,In the useof the safety device with a dual control for an airplane, both control wheels are normally operative for use by a pilot and co-pilot. Now shouldeither one of the pilots become injured or killed the remaining live pilot of the airplane can throw out or render inoperative that control being serviced by the killed or injured pilot as such control might be jammed or otherwise rendered inoperative especially if the pilot should fail upon the same and thereby render the airplane uncontrollable, the tnrewmg out or rendering inoperative oift he .afiected control is had by the living or normal 105mg the switch 2i which is located cont to him at his control and in so doing the circuit I9 will close to operate the magnets ,IB and 2 2 o n1y at the aifected control, soth-at t controlwill be rendered inoperative without "disturbing the remaining controlling of the dual t-upv. .v ,9, The safety "device 'is not limited in its us e' for adualcontrol the same can beset up for a :thiird se" erfcontrels so that in the event that ath pilots be killed a third 'r'nelnber of the crew of the airplane could have 'a seto'f controls by which he'couldQassume control of theairplane. Each circuit is "doviddWitha time switch 3'! may be of any we'll known construction. Each time switch opens its circuit at a predetermined period of timev after the closingof the swi'tch'gl of the circuit, The actuated cores or sens n held from returning to latching position the shutters associated 1 ;l'1ereWith. I .ifTl'ie tilting po t gqr column 1'9 enables it to be tl ir wnjoujt of operative position with respect to e steering wheel and displacing the latter from the fpjilots 'se'a't torelieve anyjpossibility of t e jammin of the contrdl s hould 't hekille d pilot ijall "upon the wheel, the tilting Dost c'olumn g movedputwardly or awa from "the pilots at-crewm t re -v Figure 3, of thedrawing there is showna spriflg 225 which isfcoririedted to the keeper. 2 7

il F1 5 W el. l Q l qdmi t o fs fi 'er {on rh nousm 25 and such spring functions to move, the shutter 28 downwardly when the arr riatiire, i"! has been re'traetedfor 'unlatched from the keeper so as to prevent the relatching 4 action of this armature when the solenoid is deenergized and the spring 25 active upon such armature, thus the wheel I5 is free of the shaft 20 and thus unlatched therefrom until the said shutter '28 is in a position to permit the armature 26 to engage the keeper.

In Figure 5 of the drawing there is arranged a pair of shutters 29 which move downwardly into the pathof thearma'tures 23 when the latter "are released or unlatched to eliminate relatching thereof. These shutters 29 have connected :thereto the springs 30 which are also fixed to the interior of the post or columns I3. These shutters "29 function identically with the shutter 28 hereinbefore described.

I'claim':

Means for disconnecting the dual controls of an airplane, comprising a pair of standards, each of which is provided with a hinged joint, a cont mean moun a the-J 9 of ea Standard, fi d i d h 'q h o items f y thereof, as 'e'l'ectri'c'aldevice nted on a ea m v ble. e ent 9 39 9- jlfric'al de c'e s'pin'g meansac'ting on said 'eleit nr ally u rigsaid element into fen gageme w t i the e -b, ;ea 'erit 'ol Im for holding said fcontrol'mea'i ls inoperative conmusin 91 3 .sjtan dten h fi said electricallyefiergiz djdevice ror rn-ovmgeach of said elements to isele"ctively 'rele'ase either of said control means to place s'ai'd control means in inoperative position, means for retaining each ers iae1emems in sedative po'si'ti ongand an electric circuit in which each of said "element moving means are interconnected, and switch 'rn'lrfs for making and breaking the circuit.

WILLIAM E. AUSTIN. REFERENCES CITED I "ngfflefetlces are (if rcbrd in the 'file o'f this at'en't:

entree sTATE's' Primes 

